Method for stimulating neural activity

ABSTRACT

A method for stimulating neural activity in the brain of a user of an apparatus with a display screen by causing at least one portion of the display screen to flicker in a controlled manner and utilizing the apparatus to measure an effect on a user exposed to the flicker for a time.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/691,901, filed Nov. 22, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.10,518,063, which is, in turn, a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisionalpatent application Ser. No. 16/260,430, filed Jan. 29, 2019, nowpending, which, in turn, claims priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/756,992, filed Nov. 7, 2018, the entire contentsof which patent applications are hereby incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to biomedical engineering and inparticular to a method and apparatus for effecting neural stimulation.

In recent years smartphones, such as the Apple iPhone and Android phonessuch as the Samsung Galaxy, have become ubiquitous. Many complain thatpeople spend a lot of time looking at the display screens of thesephones as well as tablets, such as the Apple iPad and the Samsung Galaxytablet. In addition, with the increasing processing power of gamingdevices such as the Nintendo Switch, the Microsoft Xbox and the SonyPlayStation, gamers can spend hours in front of the display screens ofthese devices. There is some concern, including within the medicalcommunity, that spending so much time exposed to the display screens ofthese devices will have deleterious effects on the users.

Recently, neural scientists have found that exposure to a controlledflickering of light will stimulate neural activity in the brains ofmice. The basis for this stimulation is the inducing of microglia intoan engulfing state which facilitates the transport of amyloid beta awayfrom an area where it interferes with brain function. This is describedin an article entitled Noninvasive 40-Hz light flicker to recruitmicroglia and reduce amyloid beta load by Singer et al., NatureProtocols, Vol. 13, Aug. 2, 2018, pp. 1850-1868 and in Published U.S.Application 2017/0143934 published May 25, 2017, the disclosures of bothof which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the article,the authors disclose that they “recently showed that using noninvasiveexposure to 40-Hz white-light (4,000 K) flicker to drive 40-Hz neuralactivity transforms microglia into an engulfing state and reducesamyloid beta, a peptide thought to initiate neurotoxic events inAlzheimer's disease”. In addition, research has shown that exposure tobluer light near the end of a person's circadian rhythm delays the onsetof natural sleep more than does exposure to redder light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to use the seeminglydisadvantageous effects of long display screen exposure with theadvantageous effects of light flicker to stimulate neural activity.

As used herein, the term “color temperature” is used with its ordinarymeaning within the scientific community, and is expressed in degreesKelvin, with the symbol “K” standing for “Kelvin”, e.g., “4000° K”. Asused herein, the term “color”, when not used as part of the term “colortemperature”, is used to refer to the subjective perception by theviewer of one or more color temperatures viewed simultaneously, and suchperception typically is given a name, e.g., “red-orange”. As usedherein, the term “flicker” is used to refer to a series of pulses ofelectromagnetic radiation with periods of time between each twoconsecutive pulses.

The above and other objects of the invention are achieved in accordancewith the invention by a method and apparatus for stimulating neuralactivity in the brain of a user of an apparatus with a display screen,by causing at least one portion of the display screen to flicker in acontrolled manner and utilizing the same apparatus to measure the effecton a user exposed to the flicker for an amount of time. The time can bea randomly-determined time or can be a predetermined time. The time canbe based upon the time the display screen is on or based upon the timethe user is exposed to the flicker. The time can be a time interval or atime of day. For time of day, the color of the flicker can be moved to aredder range to avoid interfering with the circadian sleep cycle.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus for stimulating neural activityin the brain of a user comprises a display screen, a flicker controlprocessor to cause at least one portion of the display screen to flickerin a controlled manner, and an effect processor for measuring the effecton a user exposed to the display screen flicker for an amount of time.The light flicker to stimulate neural activity is preferably the highrate light flicker in the normally unnoticed range of movies (24 Hz),TV's (25, 30, 50, & 60 Hz), and fluorescent/LED lights (30, 50, & 60Hz). Preferably, feedback is used to enhance any detectable advantageouseffects which may result from controlling illumination flicker timing,color, intensity and scene location parameters. The flicker controlprocessor and the effect processor can be software or purpose-builtcircuitry.

In the method and apparatus, the apparatus can be any device thatdisplays information or is used for entertainment and is preferably asmartphone such as an iPhone or an Android phone, a smart watch such asan Apple Watch, a tablet such as an iPad or an Android tablet, a laptopcomputer such as a Mac, a Windows computer or a Chromebook, an e-readersuch as a Kindle, a Nook, a PDA, a gaming device such as a Nintendogaming device such as the Switch, an Xbox, or a Sony PlayStation, atelevision, or a purpose-built device (i.e., a device whose principalfunction is to expose a user to light flicker and to measure its effecton the user). Additionally, a purpose-built device can be a fancifuldevice such as a doll or a plush toy with a display screen thatflickers, for example the eyes or accoutrements of the doll or a stuffedanimal. In each of the embodiments, the display screen is preferably atouch-screen display.

The at least one portion of the display screen that has the controlledflicker can be anywhere on the display screen and is preferably aroundan edge of the display screen, along a side of the display screen, alonga top portion of the display screen, along a bottom portion of thedisplay screen, in a middle portion of the display screen, in a patternon the display screen, in a random portion of the display screen, in apredictably movable pattern on the display screen, in a randomly movablepattern on the display screen, and/or in a user selected portion on thedisplay screen. The at least one portion of the display screen may beany portion of the display screen from just over 0% to 100% (i.e., theentire display screen). Alternatively, the entire background of the texton the display screen can flicker, all text and other information on thedisplay screen can flicker, or the entire display screen can flicker. Ina preferred embodiment, where a game, video or application is running,the flickering portion or portions are configured so as not to interferewith any game, video, or application being run on the device. Preferably5-50% percent of the display screen will flicker, more preferably 10-30%and most preferably 15-25%. In a purpose-built device or a fancifuldesign device, the flickering portion is preferably 50-100%. In otherembodiments, the flicker can be in the on-screen information orentertainment being presented on the display screen such as in thebackground or as part of the illumination of the information orentertainment and would be a significant percentage of the displayscreen, e.g., greater than 20% and preferably 80-100% of the displayscreen.

In a preferred embodiment, during the flickering at least one ofwaveform, color, color temperature, illumination, saturation, contrast,and brightness of at least one pulse is varied during the pulse. Inanother preferred embodiment, within the flickering at least two pulseshave different durations. In yet another preferred embodiment, withinthe flickering the period of time between one pair of consecutive pulsesis different from the period of time between at least one other pair ofconsecutive pulses.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the method, a position, flickerrate, off/on contrast ratio, illumination level, waveform, and/or colorof the at least one portion can be adjusted by feedback, for example, byfeedback from the user, or by feedback from a plurality of users. Aposition, flicker rate, off/on contrast ratio, illumination level,waveform, and/or color of the at least one portion can be adjusted basedupon a response from the user or upon responses from a plurality ofusers. A position, flicker rate, off/on contrast ratio, illuminationlevel, waveform, and/or color of the at least one portion can beadjusted based upon measurement of a reaction of the user or uponmeasurement of the reactions of a plurality of users.

In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, a flicker control processorcan adjust a position, the flicker rate, off/on contrast ratio,illumination level, waveform, and/or color of the at least one portionusing feedback, for example, using feedback from the user, or by usingfeedback from a plurality of users. The flicker control processor canadjust a position, flicker rate, off/on contrast ratio, illuminationlevel, waveform, and/or color of the at least one portion based upon aresponse from the user or upon responses from a plurality of users. Theflicker control processor can adjust a position, flicker rate, off/oncontrast ratio, illumination level, waveform, and/or color of the atleast one portion based upon based upon measurement of a reaction of theuser, or upon measurement of the reactions of a plurality of users.

In another preferred embodiment of the method, the time can be apredetermined time including a start time and a stop time and can be setby the user. The time exposed to the flicker can be determined basedupon a response or responses from the user to prompts on the displayscreen or audio prompts. The predetermined time can be set by feedback,for example, the predetermined time can be set by feedback based upon aresponse or responses from the user or upon responses from a pluralityof users. The predetermined time can be set by feedback based uponmeasurement of a reaction or reactions of the user, or upon measurementof the reactions of a plurality of users.

In another preferred embodiment of the apparatus, the apparatus furthercomprises a timer, which can be implemented in software or by apurpose-built circuit, for determining the predetermined time, andwherein the predetermined time can be set by the user. The predeterminedtime can be based upon the time the display screen is on, or thepredetermined time can be based upon the time the user is exposed to theflicker. The time exposed to the flicker can be set by feedback, forexample, the time exposed to the flicker can be set by feedback basedupon a response or responses from the user or upon responses from aplurality of users. The time exposed to the flicker can be set byfeedback based upon measurement of a reaction or reactions of the user,or upon measurement of the reactions of a plurality of users. The timeexposed to the flicker can be based upon a response or responses fromthe user to prompts on the display screen or audio prompts.

In still another preferred embodiment of the method, the flicker has anadjustable frequency that can be adjusted, preferably in the range of35-45 Hz. The flicker has a color temperature and the flicker can beadjusted by changing the color temperature, preferably by changing thecolor temperature in the range of 4000° K±10%. The color itself also canbe changed to a color across the visible spectrum. The flicker has asaturation and the flicker can be adjusted by changing the saturation.The flicker has a contrast and the flicker can be adjusted by changingthe contrast, preferably relative to other portions of the displayscreen. The flicker has a pulse shape and the flicker can be adjusted bychanging the pulse shape. The flicker has a duty cycle of preferably 50%and the flicker can be adjusted by changing the duty cycle in a range of25-75% and most preferable 40-60%. The flicker can be adjusted by theuser. The flicker can be adjusted by feedback, for example, the flickercan be adjusted by feedback based upon a response or responses from theuser, or upon responses from a plurality of users. The flicker can beadjusted by feedback based upon measurement of a reaction or reactionsof the user, or upon measurement of the reactions of a plurality ofusers. In addition, the flicker can be adjusted by feedback based uponthe gender of the user, the race of the user, the ethnicity of the user,the age of the user, a medical condition of the user, and/or anotherbiological parameter of the user (e.g., natural hair color, eye color,color blindness, epilepsy).

In still another preferred embodiment of the apparatus, wherein theflicker has a frequency and a flicker control processor is provided toadjust the flicker by changing the frequency, preferably by changing thefrequency in the range of 35-45 Hz. In another embodiment, the frequencyis in the range of human brain gamma waves, usually 25 to 100 Hz, with40 Hz being the most typical, and such frequency would be the startingpoint first used when being utilized with new users. The flicker controlprocessor can adjust the flicker by changing the color temperature,preferably in the range of 4000° K±10%. In another embodiment, the coloris changed within the human visual sensitivity range normally between380 nm and 770 nm. The flicker control processor can change the color inresponse to the time of day or the user's circadian rhythm cycle. Theflicker control processor can adjust the flicker by changing thesaturation, the flicker control processor can adjust the flicker bychanging the contrast, the flicker control processor can adjust theflicker by adjusting the pulse shape, and/or the flicker controlprocessor can adjust the flicker by changing the duty cycle which ispreferably 50% and which can be adjusted in the range of preferably25-75% and most preferable 40-60%. The flicker control processor canadjust the flicker in response to an input by the user, in response tofeedback, in response to measurement of a reaction or reactions of theuser, based upon the responses of a plurality of users, and/or basedupon the gender of the user, the race of the user, the ethnicity of theuser, the age of the user, a medical condition of the user, and/oranother biological parameter of the user (e.g., natural hair color, eyecolor, color blindness, epilepsy).

In yet another embodiment of the method, the apparatus is a smartphoneand a response from the user can be evaluated by a smartphone apprunning on the smartphone. The response can be to a prompt on thedisplay screen, or to a test presented on the display screen. In yetanother embodiment of the method, the apparatus is a smartphone and asmartphone app running on the smartphone can measure a reaction orreactions of the user. The reaction measured can be the reaction-time ofthe user, or the speed of use of the keyboard by the user. In yetanother embodiment of the apparatus, the apparatus is a smartphone andthe effect processor runs a smartphone app running on the smartphone tomeasure effect, wherein the effect processor can measure a reaction bythe user to a prompt on the display screen, wherein the effect processorcan measure by results on a test presented to the user on the displayscreen, including a test of reaction time, and/or wherein the effectprocessor can measure by the speed of use by the user of the keyboard ofthe display screen.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flicker rate starts at40 Hz, a color temperature of 4000° K and a duty cycle of 50%.

These and other features of the present invention will be described inmore detail with respect to the following drawing wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1F show examples of different light flickering positions of thedisplay screen of a smartphone in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the light flickering portion on the display screen of ane-reader;

FIG. 3 shows a network for proving feedback in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of circuitry for an apparatus for carrying outthe method according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method according to the present invention;and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1F, the present invention is advantageouslyembodied in a smartphone 1, such as the iPhone shown therein. Thesmartphone is particularly advantageous, because the operating systempermits an application designer to control the display screen and selecta portion or portions thereof to make it flicker at a selectedfrequency, to adjust its position, its color temperature, its color, itssaturation, its contrast, its brightness, the duty cycle of theflickering, and the waveform used to create the flickering. In addition,IOS 12 for the iPhone has the capability to measure the amount of timethe user has the display screen on, and to measure the amount of timethat a user is viewing a particular app. In addition, there are manyapps available for a smartphone that can be used to measure mentalacuity and response time. Examples of such apps are Lumosity, TrickyTest, and Peak—Brain Training. As a result, many of the requirements forthe apparatus according to the present invention for carrying out themethod according to the present invention are available on a smartphone,although the combinations thereof as set forth in the claims are novel.

The present invention is also particularly advantageously embodied in agaming device such as a Nintendo Switch, a Microsoft Xbox or a SonyPlayStation, since users spend a great deal of time exposed to thedisplay screen, the devices provide a record of time played, and thegames played on the devices measure reaction time of a user to differentvisual and audio stimuli.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1F, the display screen 2 has areas 3A-3F thatflicker at least during the time that the user is exposed to the displayscreen, e.g., playing a game, watching a video, reading text, etc. Theflickering areas are around the edge 3A, on the sides 3D and 3E, on thetop and bottom 3C and 3B or in the corners 3F. The flickering areas arepreferably positioned so as not to interfere with the operation of anyapp or video.

FIG. 2 shows an e-reader 10, such as an Amazon Kindle, with a displayscreen 11 having a text portion 13 surrounded by a flickering area 12.Alternatively, the entire background of the text on the display screencan flicker, all text and other information on the display screen canflicker, or the entire display screen can flicker.

FIG. 3 shows a network using apparatus in accordance with the invention.Tablets 20 a and 20 i-20 n, such as the Apple iPad and the SamsungGalaxy are wirelessly in communication with server 30. The server 30keeps track in a database of the display screen exposure time of eachuser, the results of the responses of the users, and the measurement ofthe reactions of the users. Alternatively, a device 20 i can keep alocal database record of the display screen exposure time of each userand process the results in software before sending the results to theserver. The results of the responses of the users, and the measurementof the reactions of the users on the device itself can be sent to theserver. The data in the database with respect to a user or of aplurality of users can be used as feedback to change parameters of theflickering, such as frequency, color temperature, color, saturation,contrast, brightness, position, percentage of display screen, etc. Theserver 30 can analyze the data of many users to determine whichparameters most affect a particular user and provide feedbackaccordingly. The feedback can be based upon the gender of the user, therace of the user, the ethnicity of the user, the age of the user, amedical condition of the user, and/or another biological parameter ofthe user (e.g., natural hair color, eye color, color blindness,epilepsy).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the functional elements of a device 40 inaccordance with the invention for a carrying out the method according tothe invention. In FIG. 4, a main processor 41 is a microprocessor whichinteracts with memory 42, which is a ROM, RAM or combination of the ROMand RAM, for program instructions. Memory 42 is also available to storesettings for the flicker parameters and to store a database of userrecords. The processor 41 also interacts with the display 44, the radio45 and the front facing camera 43. The display of the device includes adisplay screen and conventional circuitry for driving the displayscreen. The front facing camera is preferably of the type used for FaceID on an iPhone or Android phone, because it is capable of determiningwhether or not the user is looking at the display screen. The radio 45is preferably a Wi-Fi radio, a Bluetooth radio, and/or a cellular (LTEor 5G) radio or a combination thereof for communicating with server 30.The device 40 also includes a timer 48, a flicker control processor 46and an effect processor 47. These modules can be hardware or softwarebased in processor 41 and while they are shown as separate elements,they can be embodied in one or more processors and implemented insoftware. The timer 48 measures the time that the display screen is onand/or the time the user is exposed to the display screen, for examplebased upon the front facing camera 43 or based upon audio prompts orvisual prompts to the user on the display screen to see if the user isactually looking at the display screen. The flicker control processorcan adjust the parameters of the flickering which can be set by theuser, can be based upon feedback from data stored in the memory or itcan be based upon feedback from the server 30. The effect processor 47measures the effect on a user of visual and/or audio prompts. Themeasuring can be of reaction time, of results on memory tests, ofresults on mental acuity tests, of speed tests, etc.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts of methods according to the presentinvention. In the flowchart of FIG. 5, the first step 100 is to turn onthe display screen. The turning on of the display screen leads to thesecond step 110 of starting the timer. While it is desirable to time theactual exposure of the user to the flickering, the time that the displayscreen undergoes controlled flickering is a good approximation.Preferably, a front facing camera can detect that the eyes of the userare on the display screen. Alternatively, visual or audio prompts canrequire an action by the user to show that the user is paying attentionto the display screen. After a predetermined time of exposure to thedisplay screen, in step 120 an effect on a user is measured. Thismeasurement can take different forms. For example, the effect that ismeasured is the reaction time of the user to an audio or visual prompton the display screen. The measurement can be in the form of the resultsof a memory test displayed on the display screen of the display.Alternatively, a logic test can be displayed on the display screen.Preferably, one of many mental acuity tests that are available as appsfor smartphones and other similar devices can be used as a measure.After the effect is measured, in step 130 feedback can be provided. Forexample, if the measured effect shows improvement from a previousmeasurement, the flicker may remain unchanged. If on the other handthere is no improvement, the flicker can be adjusted in step 140.Alternatively, the flicker can be adjusted even if there is animprovement, or the flicker may not be adjusted even if no improvementis measured. After there is or is not an adjustment, the timer isstarted again in step 110 and the process is repeated as long as thedisplay screen is on. The times and parameters are preferably maintainedin storage for review at a later time.

The method of FIG. 6 starts with turning on the display screen in step200. In this embodiment the device receives feedback from the server 30.This feedback can be based upon data received from other users and inparticular from users where there was an improvement in the measuredeffects over time. This feedback can be used to adjust one or moreparameters relating to flickering including color temperature, color,frequency, contrast, saturation, brightness, duty cycle, and pulseshape. The feedback can be based upon the gender of the user, the raceof the user, the ethnicity of the user, the age of the user, a medicalcondition of the user, and/or another biological parameter of the user(e.g., natural hair color, eye color, color blindness, epilepsy), wherepersons having similar characteristics have shown desired changes inmeasured effects. Upon receiving this feedback, the flicker and/or thepredetermined time of exposure can be adjusted in step 220. The timer isthen started in step 230 and after the adjusted predetermined time instep 240, an effect is measured. Thereafter, the measured effect isreported to the server 30 in step 250. The flicker can then bereadjusted in step 260 and the process can be repeated.

The display screen for use with the present invention is preferably anLCD display screen or discrete LED light emitters. Alternatively, thedisplay screen can be an LED or OLED display screen.

A user interface on the display screen of the apparatus is preferably anapplication program interface (API) such as a local API, web API orprogram API and, alternatively, can be a network interface controllerthat connects a computer to a computer network or a virtual networkinterface connecting a computer to a virtual private network.

Network shown in FIG. 3 is preferably a communications network using oneor more commercial communications protocols, such as TCP/IP, FTP, UPnP,NFS, or CIFS. The network can be wireless or wired, including a localarea network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a virtual private network(VPN), the internet, an intranet, an extranet, a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN), a cellular network, a satellite communicationsnetwork, an infrared network, another type of wireless network, and thelike, or a combination of the foregoing.

An example of the present invention can include a database formed from avariety of data stores and other memory or storage media. Thesecomponents can reside in one or more of the servers, as discussed above,or may reside in a network of the servers. Alternatively, the databasecan be stored locally and maintained on the user's smartphone, tablet,computer, or other storage device. In certain embodiments, theinformation may reside in a storage-area network (SAN). Similarly, filesfor performing the functions attributed to the computers, servers orother network devices discussed above may be stored locally and/orremotely, as appropriate. Each computing system described above,including the client devices, may incorporate hardware elements that areelectrically coupled via data/control/and power buses. For example, oneor more processors in such computing systems may be central processingunits (CPU) for one or more of the client devices. The client devicesmay further include at least one user input device (e.g., a mouse,joystick, keyboard, controller, keypad, or touch-sensitive displayscreen) and at least one output device (e.g., a display, a printer, aspeaker, or a device which itself is designed to provide electricalstimulation to the brain, such as transcranial direct-currentstimulation devices and transcranial magnetic stimulation devices. Suchclient devices may also include one or more storage devices, includingdisk drives, optical storage devices and solid-state storage devicessuch as a random-access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM), aswell as removable media devices, memory cards, flash cards, storagedevices utilizing biological media (e.g., DNA), etc.

The computer systems discussed above also can include computer-readablestorage media reader, communications devices (e.g., modems, networkcards (wireless or wired), or infrared communication devices) andmemory, as previously described. The computer-readable storage mediareader is connectable or configured to receive, a computer-readablestorage medium representing remote, local, fixed and/or removablestorage devices as well as storage media for temporarily and/or morepermanently containing, storing, transmitting and retrievingcomputer-readable information. The system and various devices alsotypically will include a number of software applications, modules,services or other elements stored within at least one working memorydevice, including an operating system and application programs such as aclient application or web browser. It should be appreciated thatalternate embodiments may have numerous variations from that describedabove. For example, customized hardware also might be used, and/orparticular elements might be implemented in hardware, in software(including portable software, such as applets), or in both. Further,connection to other computing devices such as network input/outputdevices may be employed.

Storage media and other non-transitory computer readable media forcontaining code, or portions of code, can include any appropriate mediaknown or used in the art, such as but not limited to volatile andnon-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such as computerreadable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data,including RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology,CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium, including biological media such as DNA,which can be used to store the desired information and which can beaccessed by a system device. Based upon the disclosure and teachingsprovided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciateother ways and/or methods to implement the various embodiments.

The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will, however, beevident that various modifications and changes may be made thereuntowithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the claims.

While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for thedisclosure, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the disclosure. The disclosure isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures andconfigurations, but the desired features can be implemented using avariety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it willbe apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional,logical, or physical partitioning and configurations can be implementedto implement the desired features of the present disclosure. Forexample, while a single server and a processor are illustrated, theserver functions can be distributed over a number of servers andprocessors. Additionally, with regard to flow diagrams, operationaldescriptions, and method claims, the order in which the steps arepresented herein shall not mandate that the steps of the variousembodiments be implemented in the order presented, unless the contextdictates otherwise.

Although the disclosure is described above in terms of various exampleembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects, and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the otherembodiments of the disclosure, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed, and whether or not such features are presented as being apart of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-describedexample embodiments, and it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications to the previous descriptionsmay be made within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for stimulating neural activity in thebrain of a user of a smartphone with a display screen and that iscapable of running apps, comprising the steps of: a. causing at leastone portion of the display screen to flicker in a controlled manner; b.exposing the user of the smartphone to the flicker during an exposuretime thereby producing an effect on the brain of the user; and c.adjusting the flicker based upon the age of the user.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the flicker is adjusted by the user. 3.The method according to claim 1, wherein the flicker is adjusted by anapp that is running on the smartphone.
 4. The method according to claim1, wherein the display screen is a touch-screen display, and the atleast one portion is the entire display.
 5. The method according toclaim 4, wherein the flicker is adjusted by the user.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the flicker is adjusted by an app that isrunning on the smartphone, and the app adjusts the flicker based uponthe age of the user.
 7. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising adjusting the flicker based upon a medical condition of theuser.
 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adjustingthe flicker based upon a biological parameter of the user.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising adjusting the flicker basedupon an ethnicity of the user.
 10. A method for stimulating neuralactivity in the brain of a user of a smartphone with a display screenand that is capable of running apps, comprising the steps of: a. causingat least one portion of the display screen to flicker in a controlledmanner; b. exposing the user of the smartphone to the flicker during anexposure time thereby producing an effect on the brain of the user; andc. adjusting the flicker based upon the gender of the user.
 11. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein the flicker is adjusted by theuser.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the flicker isadjusted by an app that is running on the smartphone.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 10, wherein the display screen is a touch-screendisplay, and the at least one portion is the entire display.
 14. Themethod according to claim 13, wherein the flicker is adjusted by theuser.
 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the flicker isadjusted by an app that is running on the smartphone, and the appadjusts the flicker based upon the gender of the user.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising adjusting the flicker basedupon a medical condition of the user.
 17. The method according to claim10, further comprising adjusting the flicker based upon a biologicalparameter of the user.
 18. The method according to claim 10, furthercomprising adjusting the flicker based upon an ethnicity of the user.19. A method for stimulating neural activity in the brain of a user of asmartphone with a display screen and that is capable of running apps,comprising the steps of: a. causing at least one portion of the displayscreen to flicker in a controlled manner; b. exposing the user of thesmartphone to the flicker during an exposure time thereby producing aneffect on the brain of the user; and c. adjusting the flicker based uponthe race of the user.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein theflicker is adjusted by the user.
 21. The method according to claim 19,wherein the flicker is adjusted by an app running on the smartphone. 22.The method according to claim 19, wherein the display screen is atouch-screen display, and the at least one portion is the entiredisplay.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the flicker isadjusted by the user.
 24. The method according to claim 22, wherein theflicker is adjusted by an app that is running on the smartphone, and theapp adjusts the flicker based upon the race of the user.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 19, further comprising adjusting the flicker basedupon a medical condition of the user.
 26. The method according to claim19, further comprising adjusting the flicker based upon a biologicalparameter of the user.
 27. The method according to claim 19, furthercomprising adjusting the flicker based upon an ethnicity of the user.28. A method for stimulating neural activity in the brain of a user of asmartphone with a display screen and that is capable of running apps,comprising the steps of: a. causing at least one portion of the displayscreen to flicker in a controlled manner; b. exposing the user of thesmartphone to the flicker during an exposure time thereby producing aneffect on the brain of the user; and c. adjusting the flicker based upona medical condition of the user and feedback from a plurality of otherusers.
 29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the flicker isadjusted by the user.
 30. The method according to claim 28, wherein theflicker is adjusted by an app that is running on the smartphone.